The tension between you and Sam was palpable as the two of you walked back to the car. The hunt hadn’t gone as planned, and your differing approaches had led to a heated argument in the middle of the chaos. Sam’s jaw was tight, his hands gripping the steering wheel as he stared out at the road ahead.

"You could’ve gotten yourself killed back there," he finally muttered, his voice low but edged with frustration. It was clear he was still fuming, but the usual steadiness in his tone wavered, betraying something deeper.

Silence hung between you for a few moments before he sighed, pulling over to the side of the road. Turning to face you, his gaze softened, the frustration melting into something more vulnerable. "Look, I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but I..." He hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "I can’t lose you, alright? You mean too much to me."

The vulnerability in his voice was unmistakable, the weight of his words settling heavily in the small space between you. His protectiveness, his care, it all came to the surface in that moment, unspoken but undeniably present.